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Covenant Teen Named One of Hometown's 'Top Ten'
NORWOOD, MA (April 14, 2004) - Sarah Varadian of Covenant Congregational
Church in North Easton recently was named one of the winners of her
hometown's 2004 Ten Outstanding Norwood Youth (T.O.N.Y.) awards.
A sophomore at an all-girls school, Ursuline Academy in Dedham, Varadian
has completed a considerable amount of volunteer service through her
home church. Her mother, Armenie, also serves in health ministries for
the congregation and her father, Michael, has been involved in mission
efforts both locally and abroad. Following 9/11, she organized a
children's fair in her front yard and raised more than $800 for children
in Afghanistan through bake sales and donations from local businesses
and friends.
The following year, she sewed and sold teddy bears dressed in miniature
skirts. She sold the "Wee Care" bears resembling the school uniforms to
teachers and classmates with the funds earmarked for the construction of
schools for girls in Afghanistan. She became passionate about helping
girls in Afghanistan after discovering girls in that country do not have
the educational opportunities she enjoys at Ursuline Academy.
As part of the award application process, Varadian was required to write
an essay describing how service has changed her life. She told about her
early volunteerism efforts, particularly a Bible mission trip to
Appalachia, which deeply affected her. And she wrote about how God
helped her in her efforts, writing, "The Bible tells us in 1 Peter
4:10-11: 'Like good stewards of God's grace, serve one another with
whatever gifts each of you has received . . . whoever serves does so
with the strength that God provides.'"
Said Covenant Congregational youth pastor Johnny Agurkis, who nominated
Varadian for another service award to be announced later this spring,
"Sarah has an incredibly mature faith and commitment to serving Christ
by serving the needs of others. She is as solid a kid (spiritually) as
I've had in my years of youth ministry."
Norwood is a suburb of Boston. The T.O.N.Y. award, sponsored annually by
the town's Lodge of Masons, recognizes teenagers whose volunteerism and
service go above and beyond the average in terms of dedication and
commitment to others. Judges were chosen from various community leaders
in Norwood. Winners were honored at a dinner, receiving a $200
scholarship, a citation from Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and a plaque
acknowledging the accomplishment.
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